Stop the World: I Want to Get Off (1966)

The show, set against a circus backdrop, focuses on Littlechap from the moment of his birth until his death. Each time something unsatisfactory happens, he calls out 'Stop the world!' and addresses the audience.

Director:

Philip Saville

Writers:

Leslie Bricusse (book), Anthony Newley (book)

Stars:

Tony Tanner, Millicent Martin, Leila Croft

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Tanner	...	Little Chap
Millicent Martin	...	Evie / Anya / Ara / Ginnie
Leila Croft	...	Susan
Valerie Croft	...	Jane
Neil Hawley	...	Little Little Chap
Graham Lyons	...	Father-in-Law
Georgina Allen	...	Dancer / Singer
Natasha Ashton	...	Dancer / Singer
Sandra Burville	...	Dancer / Singer
Carlotta Barrow	...	Dancer / Singer
Vivyen Dunbar	...	Dancer / Singer
Katherina Holden	...	Dancer / Singer (as Katerina Holden)
Margaret Frost	...	Dancer / Singer
Ann Holloway	...	Dancer / Singer
Liz Gold	...	Dancer / Singer

Storyline

The lead in a British semi-improvisational musical theater troupe introduces the troupe's featured players - his wife, two adult daughters and adolescent son - as they rehearse for their next performance. That performance tells the story of Little Chap, a working class stiff, who marries the boss' daughter Evie because she is pregnant. He wouldn't have married her otherwise. As Evie is the boss' daughter, Little Chap, over the course of thirty-five years, is given opportunity after opportunity to enhance his professional life by his new father-in-law. In turn, Little Chap, being opportunistic, builds upon those experiences to try and be fulfilled both professionally and personally, rarely taking Evie and his burgeoning family into consideration despite the fact that they love him. At the end of those thirty-five years, he comes to an understanding of who he is and why he made the decisions in his life that he did.

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Plot Keywords:

based on stage musical | 

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Taglines:

Get the Original Soundtrack Album Available on Warner Bros. Records!

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Genres:

Musical

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Did You Know?

Trivia

This went on general release in the UK on April 24th 1966 beginning with the usual week in North London. It performed so poorly that it was pulled before reaching South London the following week.

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Connections

Remade as Sammy Stops the World (1979)

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Soundtracks

Gonna Build a Mountain
Written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley
Performed by Tony Tannerr

User Reviews

not as good as it could have been ... but a valuable record of a unique musical

Without its co-creator and original leading man, Anthony Newley, this film is at a disadvantage right from the start. It's a record of a stage musical, largely filmed in the theatre, with black and white inserts taped at a studio. It only really works because it is fresh and unique, and because of three wonderful songs in particular: 'Gonna Build a Mountain', 'Once in a Lifetime', and 'What Kind of Fool Am I'.

The problem really is that Tony Tanner, although good, is no Newley, and mimicking vocal mannerisms isn't really enough to hide the fact he's a poor substitute. Having said that, the film doesn't lack charm and anything with Millicent Martin has to get the thumbs-up. Perhaps a product of its time, and now rather dated, but watched in the right frame in mind it still stands up, perhaps better than a stage revival would these days.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 April 1966 (UK)

Also Known As:

地球を止めろ 俺は降りたい

Filming Locations:

Lyric Theatre - Lyric Square, King Street, Hammersmith, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1